The Cook Islands Public health workers are concerned that the the obesity problem among adults is impacting on school children.
The World Health Organisation released the results of a survey this month which puts the Cook Islands among the top five countries with more than 80 percent of the population overweight or obese.
Nutritionist Karen Tairea says the result confirms what they have been warning about for years.
But she says the big concern now is obesity among school children.
"Did a study with our schools and I think the last one we did was in 2005, and you're looking at the secondary level you're looking about 25 percent of the children being overweight and at the primary school it's less at about 11-percent."
Mrs Tairea says however, they have the Vaevae or foot challenge which kicks off next month for six weeks to encourage groups of people to exercise at least five times a week.